Accounts Commissioner John Franck told other members of the City Council that he wanted explanations for why it took the authority's director, Ed Spychalski, nearly six months to begin treatments for bedbugs in the city's public high rise, how he received a more than 100 percent salary hike from 2006 to 2011 and hired his son Johnathan as security chief in violation of Civil Service law.

Franck also called on Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen to send Paul Okosky, the city's public health officer, and city firefighters into Stonequist to inspect its 176 apartment units for bedbugs.

"I want some answers on this," Franck said. "I have heard too much, and I have lost my patience."

Franck suggested that the authority's board members meet with the council on Jan 31. The accounts commissioner said that he had found Spychalski "not credible" and "rude" when he addressed the City Council last month about the bedbug problem. Franck said that he had never received so many irate phone calls and emails from constituents about an issue.

Franck called it atrocious that Spychalski earns nearly $500 a year more than the lieutenant governor of New York. He said that phone calls to state and county agencies have failed to enlist assistance for the bedbug problem at Stonequist.

Franck requested the authority's budget for the last five years. He said that Spychalski had failed to provide the City Council annual reports since 2007.

Franck also ticked off a list of relatives who work together for the authority. Spychalski hired his son and daughter; the facility manager employs his wife; the authority replaced its attorney with Scott Peterson, who is the son of the agency's receptionist; and more, Franck said.

Bedbugs were first discovered in the city's public housing in July. A Stonequist resident blew the whistle on them in December, when she told the City Council that nothing was being done to eliminate the insects. Bedbugs can cause allergic reactions, secondary infections, stress, anxiety and more.

Spychalski first said that only six units had bedbugs. His latest estimate put the number at around 18. Peterson said that the authority had begun treating the bedbugs, but it's unclear what treatment is being used, where and by whom.